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Corn crop in best shape in 21 years

As of July 20, 76 percent of the country’s corn is in good or better condition, marking the best conditions seen since 1993.

According to the USDA’s latest Crop Progress report, just 5 percent of corn in the top 18 corn-producing states are rated in poor or very poor condition. Historic Crop Progress data paint an impressive picture of corn conditions reported between 1993 and 2014:

Figure 1: Corn conditions for the U.S.

Date Released

Very Poor

Poor

Fair

Good

Excellent

July 21, 2014

1

4

19

54

22

July 22, 2013

3

8

26

46

17

July 23, 2012

21

24

29

23

3

July 25, 2011

5

9

24

46

16

July 19, 2010

2

7

19

51

21

July 20, 2009

2

5

22

53

18

July 21, 2008

3

7

25

49

16

July 23, 2007

4

9

25

45

17

July 24, 2006

5

10

26

43

16

July 25, 2005

7

14

26

39

14

July 19, 2004

2

4

18

51

25

July 21, 2003

2

6

20

50

22

July 22, 2002

9

16

33

35

7

July 23, 2001

3

9

29

45

14

July 24, 2000

2

5

18

50

25

July 19, 1999

2

6

20

51

21

July 20, 1998

4

7

23

47

19

July 21, 1997

1

6

25

50

18

July 22, 1996

3

8

28

47

14

July 24, 1995

1

8

31

48

12

July 25, 1994

1

4

27

49

19

July 20, 1993

0

3

13

57

27

Missouri reported the best corn conditions in the country with 86 percent of the state’s corn in good or excellent condition. Illinois and Pennsylvania also showed high percentages of corn in these conditions.

As seen last week, North Carolina is again reporting the worst corn conditions with 14 percent in poor or worse condition. According to the North Carolina department of Agriculture, many counties are reporting Southern Corn Rust which is becoming more of a concern. Read more here.

Currently 56 percent of corn has silked, compared to the five-year average of 55 percent and last year’s report of 39 percent.

Soybeans: Already setting pods The USDA’s report also showed 60 percent of soybeans blooming and 19 percent setting pods. Last year, just 7 percent of soybeans had set pods by this time of July.

Soybean conditions improved from last week’s report. Currently 73 percent of soybeans in the country are in good or excellent condition, compared to 72 percent last week and 64 percent last year.

The best conditions were seen in Tennessee and Louisiana, where 79 percent of soybeans were rated in these conditions. Other states reporting high percentages of soybeans rated in good or better condition include Illinois (77 percent), Kentucky (77 percent), Missouri (78 percent), and North Dakota (78 percent).

Arkansas reported the worst soybeans in the county with 15 percent of the state’s soybeans in poor or worse condition.